Sorry for making my first post asking for help, but I'm desperate to help this little duckling. I've also posted on a couple of forums as I really want to get as much advice as possible - so sorry if you're read this already elsewhere!
My duck hatched him and 9 others on 08/08 and the poor thing can't walk properly. She originally attacked him, but when I tried to take him away she got very defensive and started to look after him. On Sunday we let them out into our garden for the first time and he really struggled, his mother kept looking after him and running when he got stuck but eventually he rolled into the river. We fished him out and I decided at that point it'd be best for us to take him in and see if we can help him. Now we've taken him, she's a lot more relaxed with us being around her and seems happier with the other 9. They're all black magpie ducks.
I've heard of splayed leg in ducks but I'm not sure if that's what he's suffering from? He's eating and drinking (though it's difficult for him to get to it sometimes) and when I've held him he seems generally healthy, he's perfectly capable of jumping quite a distance. But he does shake his head sometimes - I'm nervous that he's got a brain problem but he's perfectly fine otherwise.
I tried to get a video when we took him in and this was the best I could do:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8HFuSwbPks[/youtube]
He's often falling on his back like that and I keep trying to correct him but it's not long before he's back again (I felt bad leaving him for the video, but wanted everyone to see how he was). I've since got him a ridged towel that's made it easier for him to hook his claws into and right himself.
Here's a picture of him when we took him in as well:
I've strapped his legs with vetrap since Monday night and though he's still not walking, it certainly feels like he's improved (though maybe I'm looking with optimistic eyes). He's definitely got an appetite and he seems a lot more confident, but not really stable on his feet (almost as if he has no balance). I've not had to do this before so I've read as much as I can and hopefully I've done it correctly. I'd love any help or advice anyone might have who's already been through this!
I'm grateful for any help or advice anyone can give, thanks in advance guys!
Latest picture:
My duck hatched him and 9 others on 08/08 and the poor thing can't walk properly. She originally attacked him, but when I tried to take him away she got very defensive and started to look after him. On Sunday we let them out into our garden for the first time and he really struggled, his mother kept looking after him and running when he got stuck but eventually he rolled into the river. We fished him out and I decided at that point it'd be best for us to take him in and see if we can help him. Now we've taken him, she's a lot more relaxed with us being around her and seems happier with the other 9. They're all black magpie ducks.
I've heard of splayed leg in ducks but I'm not sure if that's what he's suffering from? He's eating and drinking (though it's difficult for him to get to it sometimes) and when I've held him he seems generally healthy, he's perfectly capable of jumping quite a distance. But he does shake his head sometimes - I'm nervous that he's got a brain problem but he's perfectly fine otherwise.
I tried to get a video when we took him in and this was the best I could do:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8HFuSwbPks[/youtube]
He's often falling on his back like that and I keep trying to correct him but it's not long before he's back again (I felt bad leaving him for the video, but wanted everyone to see how he was). I've since got him a ridged towel that's made it easier for him to hook his claws into and right himself.
Here's a picture of him when we took him in as well:
I've strapped his legs with vetrap since Monday night and though he's still not walking, it certainly feels like he's improved (though maybe I'm looking with optimistic eyes). He's definitely got an appetite and he seems a lot more confident, but not really stable on his feet (almost as if he has no balance). I've not had to do this before so I've read as much as I can and hopefully I've done it correctly. I'd love any help or advice anyone might have who's already been through this!
I'm grateful for any help or advice anyone can give, thanks in advance guys!
Latest picture:
